Kyoto, Japan (Part 1)

Kyoto makes the best day trip destination if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle. In many ways, I think Kyoto actually outdo Tokyo/Osaka, especially when the maple leaves painted the city crimson in autumn. It’s just incredibly beautiful and peaceful.

How to get there?  Only 2 hours by Shinkansen from Tokyo or half an hour by normal train from Osaka.

[ Shinkansen bullet train ]

Where to Stay?

New Miyako

PROS

• Walking distance to the Shinkansen train station

CONS

• Basic small room but clean

What to do?  Surly Kyoto can be visited in one day but this itinerary is a 2.5 day trip also covering Arashiyama and Kawaramachi nearby.

Day 1

• Kiyomizu-dera temple (清水寺) (opens from 6am-6pm) – The city is best to be visited by bus and by foot. The bus terminal is located outside Kyoto Train Station and one-day bus pass is available for unlimited rides. You may want to obtain a bus route map and timetable in the Information Centre nearby. Take bus No.100/206 to Kiyomizu-michi or Gojo-zaka, then walk uphill for ten minutes to reach the UNESCO listed Buddhist temple.
  

  

  Highlights of this temple are:
  

  • The wooden verandah in the main hall – this is the best place for your quintessential Kyoto photo.

  

  [ The wooden verandah ]

  • Jishu-jinja (the match-making shrine) – legend has it that you would meet your lover if you could walk blindfolded from one end to where the big rock is.
    

    

    [ The lurvvve temple ]

    

    

    

    [ Love wishes ]

  • Otowa-no-taki (the temple's waterfall) – Kiyomizu means ‘clear water’, this is where the temple got its name from. The water from the waterfall runs off from nearby hills. You will see many locals drink the water from the waterfall with a communal wooden ladle.
    

    
  • The tea house near the waterfall. There are also lots of outdoor tea houses outside the temple.
• Sannenzaka and Ninen-zaka – The two stepped streets leading off from Kiyomizu-zaka are very picturesque and full of souvenir shops.
  

  

  

  [ Pottery shop ]

  

  [ Very beautiful bowls ]

  
• Yasaka Jinja Shrine (八坂神社). Walking along Ninen-zaka is Yasaka Jinja Shrine. It is best to visit after dark when all the lanterns are lit up.
  

  
• Dinner in Gion – it is a quiet area full of beautiful old Japanese wooden houses. Most of them are high-end Japanese restaurants and where geisha entertain.
  

  

  [ Gion at night ]